Urgent: Ecological spatial data scientist...

Job Description

Salary - £38,939 - £41,321
Hybrid working (50/50)
Wallingford based
Fixed Term (12 months, initially)
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

Are you passionate about environmental science, skilled in spatial data analysis, and excited by the challenge of turning research into practical solutions for nature recovery? If so, we have a fantastic opportunity for you at UKCEH Wallingford.

We’re looking for a creative, technically skilled Ecological Spatial Data Scientist to join our dynamic team. In this role, you’ll help develop innovative digital tools, including the Farm Health Check, an interactive platform that gives farmers accurate, impartial insights into their natural capital and environmental risks.

You'll work at the forefront of environmental science, applying advanced spatial analyses to diverse datasets to create intuitive metrics and visualisations. Your work will directly support land managers and policymakers working towards more sustainable and resilient landscapes.

This role offers more than just technical challenges - you’ll engage directly with stakeholders to co-design tools that meet real-world needs. You’ll also have opportunities to contribute to academic publications and national data products, as well to develop your career through training and collaboration with leading scientists.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop advanced spatial analysis workflows in R to produce innovative, actionable metrics
  
• Build reproducible, efficient code to analyse complex geospatial datasets
  
• Create clear, engaging data visualisations that support decision-making
  
• Contribute to the design and development of tools like the Farm Health Check
  
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external partners
  
• Communicate research and tools to diverse audiences, including farmers, policymakers, and fellow researchers
  
  We’re Looking for Someone With:
  
  
• Strong expertise in geospatial data analysis using R
  
• Familiarity with a wide range of spatial datasets, formats, and resolutions
  
• Skills in writing clean, maintainable, and reusable code
  
• Familiarity with collaborative tools (experience with GitHub preferred)
  
• Experience with interactive visualisations (e.g., Leaflet) and dynamic reporting tools like R Markdown or Quarto
  
• A detail-oriented, methodical approach, ensuring high-quality outputs
  
• Strong commitment to collaboration, integrity, and excellence
  
  Qualifications:
  
  
• Postgraduate degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field (e.g., environmental science, geospatial analysis)
  
• Experience working with spatial data in GIS and coding environments
  
• Proven ability to create user-friendly, stakeholder-focused visualisations and data products
  
  You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.
  
  Working for UKCEH is rewarding
  
  We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as:
  
  
• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure
  
• 10% employer pension contribution
  
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)
  
• Peer reward and recognition scheme
  
• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal
  
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
  
• 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more...
  
  Apply today!
  
  At UKCEH, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone—regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance—has the opportunity to thrive. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and those with disabilities. We are happy to provide any adjustments or support you may need throughout the application process—please don’t hesitate to reach out. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.
  
  At present, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.